Easter 2: Gospel, John 20:19-31                                             

John 20:19-31

At the very end of John 20 there is a short paragraph, that's because of the import of the rest of the chapter, we sometimes skim past. And yet in just a few lines, the genius of the Holy Spirit is unleashed if we will just take the time to dwell there a bit.

Beginning in verse thirty: “ Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book …” A companion verse at the end of John 21 adds, “Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written” (John 21:25). Signs. John’s very definite term for the miraculous accomplishments of Jesus. Signs. Pointing to Jesus. Pointing to salvation only in Jesus.

So many that John uses an obvious figure of speech to paint a dazzling picture of the lengths to which Jesus went to confirm His Word. But at the very end of John 20 the purpose is stated clearly: “that by believing  (in the worker of signs) you may have life in his name” (v. 31, w/insert). The signs were not done helter-skelter for themselves. Neither were they done by themselves as if to say it didn’t matter which one was done where. No, they were all intentional and strategic. And Jesus did more than we could imagine, John says.

All that to help the crowds and us to believe His Word. So today, when I don’t get to see the same signs? I think it would be safe to say we have seen the “great sign.” God has become a man. And the Word, His Word is powerful enough to convince, to lead us to believe it. But the visible signs were part of His plan for that time and those “lucky” people. Just as a few verses before Jesus clarified His miraculous appearance to Thomas: “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (20:29). 

You see, we miss the point when we look to the signs for their grandeur, as wonderful as they were. We are not the less blessed because we “missed out” on the signs. We are blessed all the more. Because for seeing all that Jesus DID, He would rather have us hear what He has said.

We pray: Father, let us hear the words of Your Son. Clearly. For their own sake. For His.

Amen!